Therapeutic Potential of Certain Terpenoids as Anticancer Agents: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, with chemoresistance, toxicity, relapse, and metastasis posing significant therapeutic challenges.
• Developing novel anticancer agents is crucial to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
• Terpenoids, diverse plant-derived secondary metabolites, are recognized for their potential pharmacological and anticancer activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anticancer activities of twenty-five specific terpenoids.
• To elucidate the mechanisms of action and signaling pathways involved in terpenoid-induced anticancer effects.
• To provide insights into current clinical trials and future directions for terpenoid-based cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating terpenoids and their anticancer properties.
• Analysis of research detailing the mechanisms by which terpenoids affect cancer cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
• Examination of data from clinical trials involving terpenoids as anticancer agents.

Main Results:

• Terpenoids demonstrate anticancer effects by inducing cell cycle arrest, inhibiting differentiation, and promoting apoptosis in early cancer stages.
• Certain terpenoids inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis in advanced cancer by modulating intracellular signaling pathways.
• Twenty-five terpenoids were analyzed, highlighting their diverse anticancer mechanisms and potential.

Conclusions:

• Terpenoids represent a promising class of natural compounds for cancer therapy due to their multifaceted anticancer mechanisms.
• Further research and clinical trials are warranted to develop specific terpenoids into effective anticancer drugs.
• Understanding terpenoid signaling pathways is key to optimizing their therapeutic application in oncology.